Phrasal Verb - Backing up
Image uploaded to Pixabay by N/A
.Definition
The phrasal verb "back up" carries multiple distinct meanings, making it highly versatile in English. Primarily, it can mean to provide support, corroboration, or assistance to someone or something, affirming their position, statement, or claim. In the context of digital data and computing, it refers to the act of creating a copy of files, folders, or entire systems to ensure data recovery in case of loss or damage. When used with vehicles, it signifies the action of moving backward. Furthermore, "back up" can describe a situation where a flow is obstructed, leading to a blockage or accumulation, such as a drain becoming clogged or traffic becoming congested. It can also imply a delay or piling up of tasks or work. Lastly, it can refer to providing a secondary, reserve, or alternative option that can be used if the primary one fails or is unavailable, essentially serving as a contingency.
Examples
| No. | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 | It's crucial to back up your important files regularly to prevent data loss. |
| 2 | Can you back me up on this story? I told them exactly what happened. |
| 3 | He had to back up slowly to get his car out of the tight parking spot. |
| 4 | The evidence didn't back up his claims, leading to his acquittal. |
| 5 | Traffic started backing up for miles after the accident on the highway. |
| 6 | If we don't fix this leak soon, the pipes are going to back up again. |
| 7 | We always have a backup generator to back up our power supply during outages. |
| 8 | My colleagues always back me up when I propose a new project. |
| 9 | Don't forget to back up the entire system before you install the new update. |
| 10 | If we let these orders accumulate, our work will start backing up significantly. |